Keyano Huskies Men’s Basketball alumni Sean-Michael Clancey is taking his talents to the professional ranks.
The 2022-23 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and two-time Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men’s Basketball Player of the Year will be suiting up for S.C. Vasco da Gama in Portugal during the 2023-24 season.
“I’m excited to have signed professionally, especially after hearing so much about needing NCAA or playing in the states to make this dream easier to achieve,” Clancey said. “Through all the ups and down I’ve endured and times wanting to stop playing, this moment makes all the sacrifice and time spent worth it.”
Clancey spent the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years with the Huskies, playing a leading role in the program posting back-to-back perfect seasons with a combined regular season record of 36-0. In those two seasons and 36 games, Clancey led the Huskies with 856 points, also capturing his second and third ACAC North Division scoring titles in the process. His 389 points in the 2021-22 season made him the top overall scorer in the ACAC as well.
“We’re obviously really happy for him as an individual,” Men’s Basketball Head Coach Jeremy Wielenga said. “We knew when he first came here this is one of his ultimate goals.
“To see all the hard work he’s put in over the last few years to see that finally come true, we couldn’t be happier for him.”
Clancey is the third member of the Men’s Basketball Huskies to ink a professional contract in Europe in the last two seasons. Ringo Dau and Jacob Simmons, who last played for the program in 2021-22, also signed professional contracts.
Including his time with the NAIT Ooks in the 2019-20 season, Clancey amassed an incredible resume in CCAA Men’s Basketball in just 58 regular season games. His 1,442 points rank in the top 10 all-time for the conference while his 24.86 points per game ranks in the top three performers on the all-time scoring list.
His 166 steals also ranks in the top 10 all-time for conference play. He’s also compiled 475 rebounds and 231 assists.
“My time playing at Keyano were the best two years of growth as a player,” Clancey added. “So many times people questioned why I chose to go live so far away Fort McMurray and my answer is every time that’s it’s everything that I needed.
“It’s been a great experience being a [member of the] Keyano Huskies.”
In addition to his Player of the Year honours this season, Clancey was also named a CCAA All-Canadian for the third-straight season and was named as a CCAA Academic All-Canadian for the first time in 2022-23. He also earned his third-straight nomination to the ACAC’s First-Team All-Conference.
Within Keyano College Huskies Athletics, Clancey was recognized as back-to-back Most Valuable Player for Men’s Basketball and as the Male Athlete of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
